If the title wasn't enough, this song is definitely about Judy Garland. It mentions California/Hollywood (where she worked for most of her career), London (a favorite concert spot), the emerald city (Wizard of Oz), and my favorite, "remember minnesota," where she was born and spent some of her childhood. Later in life she would say that life in minnesota was the happiest time of her life. The fat rich men probably a reference to studio execs at MGM taking advantage of child stars.
I love the Mountain Goats AND Judy Garland, so this one lets me have my cake and eat it too :)
On the words of the chorus, I assume they are the same "fat rich men" -- presumably studio executives like MGM's Louis B. Mayer. The wikipedia article on Judy Garland has this: "Insecure about her appearance, her feelings were compounded by film executives who told her she was unattractive and manipulated her on-screen physical appearance."
On the words of the chorus, I assume they are the same "fat rich men" -- presumably studio executives like MGM's Louis B. Mayer. The wikipedia article on Judy Garland has this: "Insecure about her appearance, her feelings were compounded by film executives who told her she was unattractive and manipulated her on-screen physical appearance."
I wonder if the chorus is about seeing some publicly admired men behave in really cruel and manipulative ways in private.
I wonder if the chorus is about seeing some publicly admired men behave in really cruel and manipulative ways in private.
tjwells, I'd never thought of it that way, but I like it. When I first heard the chorus I was thinking of people who outwardly project success and happiness but are actually falling apart on the inside, ie. what Judy Garland was doing for most of her life.
tjwells, I'd never thought of it that way, but I like it. When I first heard the chorus I was thinking of people who outwardly project success and happiness but are actually falling apart on the inside, ie. what Judy Garland was doing for most of her life.
If the title wasn't enough, this song is definitely about Judy Garland. It mentions California/Hollywood (where she worked for most of her career), London (a favorite concert spot), the emerald city (Wizard of Oz), and my favorite, "remember minnesota," where she was born and spent some of her childhood. Later in life she would say that life in minnesota was the happiest time of her life. The fat rich men probably a reference to studio execs at MGM taking advantage of child stars.
I love the Mountain Goats AND Judy Garland, so this one lets me have my cake and eat it too :)
What do you think they are talking about in the chorus, "You don't wanna see these guys without their masks on"?
What do you think they are talking about in the chorus, "You don't wanna see these guys without their masks on"?
On the words of the chorus, I assume they are the same "fat rich men" -- presumably studio executives like MGM's Louis B. Mayer. The wikipedia article on Judy Garland has this: "Insecure about her appearance, her feelings were compounded by film executives who told her she was unattractive and manipulated her on-screen physical appearance."
On the words of the chorus, I assume they are the same "fat rich men" -- presumably studio executives like MGM's Louis B. Mayer. The wikipedia article on Judy Garland has this: "Insecure about her appearance, her feelings were compounded by film executives who told her she was unattractive and manipulated her on-screen physical appearance."
I wonder if the chorus is about seeing some publicly admired men behave in really cruel and manipulative ways in private.
I wonder if the chorus is about seeing some publicly admired men behave in really cruel and manipulative ways in private.
tjwells, I'd never thought of it that way, but I like it. When I first heard the chorus I was thinking of people who outwardly project success and happiness but are actually falling apart on the inside, ie. what Judy Garland was doing for most of her life.
tjwells, I'd never thought of it that way, but I like it. When I first heard the chorus I was thinking of people who outwardly project success and happiness but are actually falling apart on the inside, ie. what Judy Garland was doing for most of her life.